“We also had the lead with five minutes to go but couldn’t close the game and that was frustrating too.

“I’m not downhearted, I’m just frustrated really. We have got to learn these lessons if we are to have a good season.

“The lads will be angry about it. they know it’s all about fronting up. You have got to make your tackles, win those one-on-one battles.”

It only took six minutes for the scoreboard to start moving when the Derby forwards drove on, released the ball and Ollie Saffell found himself in space, ducked back inside and stretched to touch the ball down.

The scoreboard operator was kept busy all afternoon as both sides kept crossing the whitewash.

It was Doncaster’s turn next and the try gave Derby a preview of what was to come, with the ball being moved quickly in the backs and off loaded cleverly, creating the space to score. The conversion took Doncaster ahead after 10 minutes.

Alert play from Jake Barker restored Derby’s lead when he picked off a Doncaster pass and sprinted 40 metres to score. George Castledine converted.

And Derby scored again after 24 minutes. Jake Barker claimed a line-out and Sam Martin found Jack Dawson, who scored his first try for the club. Castledine again converted.

Derby had dominated the half but were rocked by two Doncaster tries in the final five minutes of the half. One of those was converted and the sides were locked at 19-19 at the interval.

The second half was only five minutes old when Doncaster ran back a Derby kick and, after a number of phases, scored. The conversion took them seven points clear.

Derby hit back three minutes later when Pete Wilcox marked his 200th appearance for the club by putting Jake Roome away to score in the corner, giving the home side a bonus point for their fourth try.

But the topsy-turvy nature of the game continued with Doncaster scoring a converted try in the 51st minute.

Derby again hit back almost immediately, with Luke Frixou showing great strength to force his way over. Castledine converted and Derby were two points behind.

Doncaster edged further ahead with a 56th-minute penalty but that lead was wiped out when second row Sam Tebbs scored a superb solo try which Castledine converted.

That gave a Derby a two-point lead with 20 minutes remaining and for once the scoreboard operator could draw breath as there was no further scoring for the next 14 minutes.

But in the closing stages Doncaster grabbed the win.

A penalty put them ahead and they then claimed the kick-off, keeping the ball for the rest of the match, which they capped with a converted try which made sure Derby missed out on a losing bonus point.